A week of warm nights, Balaton breezes, and laugh-out-loud theatre is coming to Szigliget as the Centrál Theatre lands in the castle courtyard on Kisfaludy Street (Kisfaludy utca). Between August 8 and August 15, 2026, the company brings Neil Simon’s evergreen hit The Odd Couple (Furcsa pár), followed by Woody Allen’s sharp new comedy Pure Madness (Tiszta őrület) from August 17 to August 22. Two very different comedies, one magical open-air stage, and the kind of atmosphere you only get on the north shore of Lake Balaton. Join the Centrál Summer and make an evening of it in one of Hungary’s most scenic spots.
Where and when
The venue is the castle courtyard at 8264 Szigliget, Kisfaludy u. 30. The Centrál Summer season runs August 8–22, 2026, with The Odd Couple scheduled for August 8–15, and Pure Madness from August 17–22. Performances are open-air, designed for those balmy August evenings when theatre under the stars feels like a holiday in itself.
Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple
Two men couldn’t be more different: one is obsessive about order, the other delightfully messy; one carefully schedules every minute, the other resists any constraint; one mops, the other tramples all over it. What happens when they move in together? Cue a cascade of the most entertaining comic situations. Neil Simon’s most-performed play, The Odd Couple (Furcsa pár), could easily veer into relationship drama, but best friends Oscar and Felix turn it into an irresistible comedy double act.
In the title roles, audiences will see Róbert Alföldi and András Stohl. They’re joined by Mariann Hermányi, Éva Lili Domokos, Tamás Szabó Kimmel, Attila Magyar, András Mészáros, and Bálint Rada. The production runs in two acts. Author: Neil Simon. Translators: Samu Puskás and Dávid Puskás. Director: Tamás Puskás.
Woody Allen’s Pure Madness
Shy, disappointed Fay and well-bred, slightly unlucky Richard look like a perfect match—just as star playwright Jake and his razor-tongued political analyst wife, Sheila, seem made for each other. A cozy dinner is on the cards until Jake’s unpredictable ex, Boots, drops in. Forget soft Brie and polite sips of wine; Woody Allen’s latest play swaps both for rock-hard verbal duels and turbo-charged tempers, proving how a simple dinner can spiral into pure madness.
Pure Madness (Tiszta őrület), written in 2024 and subtitled Neurotics Jamboree, plays like a seasoned playwright’s confession. It crackles with hard-won insight: an older man talks about women, neurosis, theatre, and snobbery, insisting that despite all efforts—though the galley sails above and the water surges below—sex rules. This semi-autobiographical comedy feels like Allen summing up his lifelong obsessions and the way he paddled through life as a man.
On stage, Gábor Hevér plays the playwright; Nóra Parti is his political analyst wife; Eszter Balla appears as the bride jilted at the altar. Richard, the well-born producer—the classic Parisian—is portrayed by Tamás Szabó Kimmel, while Dorina Martinovics takes the stage as Jake’s former partner, the eternal courtesan. The performance is a single act lasting 1 hour 15 minutes.
Note: the show includes scenes with strong light and sound effects and is not recommended for viewers under 16. In Hungary, the play is represented by Theatrum Mundi Theatrical and Literary Agency.
Stay, sip, swim: Szigliget essentials
Make a getaway of it. In Szigliget, guest rooms in a restored 100-year-old house sit right in the middle of a vineyard. You’ll get private bathrooms, a shared kitchen, and a courtyard swimming pool. Beneath the house, a wine cellar invites you to atmospheric tastings—a nod to the region’s deep winemaking roots.
On the north shore of Lake Balaton, apartments and a guesthouse share a single courtyard—stylish, comfortable, and perfect for larger groups of 13–15 people year-round. For something indulgent, “friendly luxury” beckons in Szigliget’s old village, where urban comfort meets heritage charm. The restaurant weaves together the urban and rural moods celebrated in Béla Czene’s paintings, creating space and time for unhurried conversations and shared moments, drink in hand.
Villa Kabala, set in captivating surroundings with sweeping Balaton views, is a serene choice. Six elegant upstairs rooms carry the spirit of painter István Farkas, with names borrowed from the family winery’s bottles. Wi-Fi and parking are free for both bistro and hotel guests, and dogs are welcome in the restaurant.
Eat, drink, dance
At Szigliget Beach, the Matróz Restaurant and Platán Pizzeria serve hot dishes and pizzas fresh from a wood-fired Italian oven, plus buffet bites, fish and grill plates, and ice creams. Expect daily music, free weekend beach parties, cocktails, and drink specials at the area’s only open-air nightlife spot. Family-run eateries around town offer warm service, while nearby cellars pour handcrafted, limited-run wines made exclusively from their own 12.36-acre vineyards—now counted among Hungary’s celebrated Hungaricums. Another family winery near Castle Hill blends traditional and modern techniques inside Antal Hill’s oldest, beautifully restored cellar. Book ahead for tastings of distinctive Badacsony wines paired with homemade bites, many aged in oak barrels.
Plan your Centrál Summer
Key dates: August 8–15 for The Odd Couple; August 17–22 for Pure Madness; and August 8–22 for the broader Centrál Summer program. The organizers reserve the right to change times and programming. For tickets, details, and inquiries, head to the Szigliget castle courtyard ticket points on Kisfaludy u. 30, check the event links, or call the listed numbers. Follow updates, secure your seats, and claim your spot under the summer sky—Szigliget is ready to turn August evenings into memories.
